February word of the Month

“Whatever your life's work is, do it well.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

February Word of the Month:

Sarcasm

: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

When I choose my word of the month, it normally has to do with some quality or behavior that I want to engage in or with,or at the least, be aware of.

This month's word of the month,SARCASM, is different.

While I do want to be aware of my use of SARCASM, it is not a quality or behavior that I want to continue to engage in.

For years,SARCAM has been part of my persona. My sharp , cutting attitude was a badge of honor.

I was an expert when it came to using sarcasm.

I spewed SARCASM constantly.

I used to think it was a part of being a New Yorker.

So much so that people had to double check with me to make sure that I was being sarcastic.

Today I had a new passenger on my bus.

81 year old Leonard,had barely sat down before he started in with what I am sure he believed was humorous.

One jab after another, for the 20 minutes he was on the bus, the sharp shots kept coming.

All I could think to myself was OMG....is that what I sound like?

It's absolutely painful to listen to.

If my kids are reading this they are probably asking themselves Who's writing this and what have you done with our father!"

Sarcasm has been a staple around the Spiegel dinner table .

That is except for Susan.

Having married into, not being born into, the family, she has manged to avoid what seems to be genetically imprinted in the rest of the Spiegel clan.

It has to stop!

It is not pretty. There is nothing endearing or charming about it. It is off putting, offensive and mean spirited,no matter how many times it's followed by JK (Just Kidding!)

I have to be honest here. This will be a hard one to change.

It is almost biologically ingrained in my DNA

That is why I have chosen it as my February Word of the Month.

Not o participate in it,but to be acutely aware of it at all times.

This will be a challenge.

However, I know that I will be a better person when I learn to curb it and keep it under control..